American Chemical Society facts for kids
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| Formation | April 6, 1876 |
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| Type | Scientific society |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
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Membership
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more than 155,000 |
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President
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Mary K. Carroll |
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Key people
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Albert G. Horvath (CEO) |
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Budget (2016)
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US$528 million |
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a large group of scientists in the United States. It helps people learn more about chemistry. The ACS was started in 1876 at New York University.
Today, the ACS has over 155,000 members. These members are chemists, chemical engineers, and other related scientists. It is one of the biggest science groups in the world. The ACS is a non-profit group, meaning it doesn't aim to make money. Its main office is in Washington, D.C.
The ACS shares scientific information in many ways. They publish science magazines and hold big meetings. They also run the Chemical Abstracts Service, which is a huge database of chemical information. This service is their main way of earning money.
The ACS has student groups at many universities. These groups help students with volunteering and career choices. The ACS also publishes textbooks and gives out awards for science. They offer grants for research and support many learning programs.
Contents
About the American Chemical Society
What the ACS Does
The American Chemical Society is a top source for chemistry information. They publish more than 80 science magazines. One famous magazine is the Journal of the American Chemical Society. They also publish a weekly magazine called Chemical & Engineering News.
The ACS holds big meetings twice a year. These meetings cover all areas of chemistry. They also have smaller meetings about specific chemistry topics.
How ACS Helps Students
The ACS has student chapters at almost every major university. These groups help students learn about careers in chemistry. They also offer chances to volunteer and discuss new research.
The organization also publishes school books. They give out many national chemistry awards. They also provide money for science research. The ACS supports many programs that help people learn about chemistry.
History of the ACS
How the ACS Started
In 1874, some American chemists met to celebrate a special event. It was 100 years since Joseph Priestley found oxygen. They thought about starting a new group just for chemistry. This was because chemistry was growing fast in the U.S.
Two years later, on April 6, 1876, the American Chemical Society was officially started. This happened at the University of the City of New York, which is now New York University. The group became a legal organization in 1877.
Charles F. Chandler, a chemistry professor, helped start the society. He believed the group would help new research. He also thought it would bring chemists closer together. This would help people understand science better.
John William Draper was chosen as the first president. He was a famous photochemist and photographer. He made one of the first photo portraits in 1840. Chandler later became president in 1881 and 1889.
The ACS logo was designed by Tiffany & Co. around 1909. It shows a special chemistry tool called a kaliapparat.
Growing Over Time
The Journal of the American Chemical Society started in 1879. It was the first magazine published by the ACS. It is still their most important science magazine today.
In 1907, a separate journal called Chemical Abstracts was created. This later became the Chemical Abstracts Service. It provides chemical information to scientists all over the world. Chemical & Engineering News is another magazine published by ACS since 1923.
The ACS moved its main office from New York City to Washington, D.C., in 1905. In 1937, the U.S. Congress gave the ACS a special charter. This made it a national organization. The ACS headquarters moved to its current spot in Washington in 1941.
How the ACS is Organized
Science Divisions
The ACS started special groups called divisions in 1908. These groups help scientists who work in certain areas of chemistry. They share information and organize meetings. They also publish books and give awards.
There are 32 different divisions in the ACS. Some examples include:
- Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biological Chemistry
- Chemical Education
- Environmental chemistry
- History of Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
Organic Chemistry Division
This is the largest division in the ACS. It celebrated its 100th birthday in 2008. This group helps organize talks and poster sessions at ACS meetings. They recognize new professors and young researchers. They also honor chemists who have made great discoveries in organic chemistry.
The division helps organize international meetings. They also help students get money for their PhD studies. They have programs for undergraduate students too.
Local Sections
The ACS also has local groups called sections. These groups are in different cities and states. They have their own leaders and plan local events. They help members grow in their careers. They also organize community events and give local awards.
The first local section was in Rhode Island in 1891. Now, there are 186 local sections across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
International Chapters
The ACS also has International Chemical Sciences Chapters. These groups are for ACS members outside the U.S. They help scientists connect and share ideas in their own countries.
There are 24 international chapters. Some of these are in:
- Australia
- Brazil
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
Learning Programs and Activities
Chemistry Education and Outreach
The ACS helps science teachers improve their skills. This helps teachers make chemistry fun for students. It also encourages young people to study science in the future.
The ACS helps run the United States National Chemistry Olympiad. This is a contest to pick the best four students to represent the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad.
The ACS also creates standard tests for different areas of chemistry. Colleges often use these tests for general and organic chemistry classes. The ACS also approves college chemistry programs. This means students who finish these programs are well-prepared for science jobs.
The ACS has two yearly events to teach the public about chemistry. These are National Chemistry Week and Chemists Celebrate Earth Week. They have been celebrated since 1978 and 2003. Each year has a fun theme, like "Chemistry Colors Our World."
Green Chemistry Institute
The Green Chemistry Institute (GCI) helps spread the idea of green chemistry. Green chemistry means making chemicals and products in ways that are better for the environment.
The GCI holds a yearly conference about green chemistry. They also give money for research. They help teachers, scientists, and businesses use green chemistry practices. The GCI started in 1997 and became part of the ACS in 2001.
Petroleum Research Fund
The Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) is a special fund managed by the ACS. It supports learning and research about petroleum and fossil fuels. This fund gives grants to non-profit schools and research groups. In 2007, it gave out over $25 million in grants.
The PRF started in 1944. It was created to support science related to oil. The ACS became in charge of the fund in 2000.
Other Programs
The ACS International Activities helps scientists who want to study or work abroad. They have an online resource called the ACS International Center. It lists many scholarships and grants for students and researchers.
Students in college can join the ACS as student members. Universities can also start their own ACS Student Chapters. These chapters get benefits like discounts on ACS publications.
Awards and Honors
National Awards
The American Chemical Society gives out 64 national awards. These awards honor scientists for their important work in chemistry. The awards recognize achievements at different stages of a scientist's career.
The ACS national awards started in 1922. The highest award is the Priestley Medal. It is given for great service to chemistry. In 2019, Karl Barry Sharpless won the Priestley Medal.
Other Awards
Other awards are given by the different divisions and local sections of the ACS. The William H. Nichols Medal Award was the first ACS award. It started in 1903. Many winners of this medal have also won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
The Willard Gibbs Award started in 1910. It honors Josiah Willard Gibbs, a professor who created important rules in chemistry. The Georgia Local Section gives the Herty Medal to great chemists in the southeastern U.S.
The New York Section of ACS also gives Leadership Awards. These awards honor leaders in business and other areas. They are given for helping science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs.
The ACS also gives regional awards each year. These include awards for volunteer service and for excellent high school teaching. There are also awards for promoting diversity in chemistry.
See Also
In Spanish: Sociedad Estadounidense de Química para niños
- Reagent Chemicals (Reagent ACS), standards of chemical purity
- ACS style, the ACS's citation standard
- Association for Learned and Professional Society Publishers
- Chemical Abstracts Service
- List of learned societies
- List of international professional associations
- National Chemistry Week
- National Historic Chemical Landmarks
